The Shenendehowa boys volleyball team secured its fifth consecutive Section 2 Division 1 championship on Friday night.
The Mustangs defeated their rival, Shaker, in straight sets at Schenectady High School, finishing with scores of 25-22, 25-19, and 28-26, according to Yahoo Sports.
Senior setter Andrew Borgman led the effort for Shenendehowa, recording 38 assists to guide the team to victory.
Borgman expressed relief that the team avoided a five-set match, noting that the Mustangs had been pushed to the limit in previous seasons.
“Finishing in three is a lot of stress that we don’t have to deal with,” Borgman said, as reported by the Times Union.
The match featured a pivotal moment in the second set when Shaker coach Sam Halpern displayed sportsmanship by conceding a point.
Although officials initially awarded a point to Shaker, Halpern admitted the ball went off his player before landing out of bounds.
Shenendehowa coach John Coletta praised the gesture, stating that the act was a testament to the integrity of the Shaker program.
The final set remained competitive as Shaker rallied to force a tiebreaker after trailing 20-16.
Mustangs senior Ryan Guetti eventually delivered the decisive spike to clinch the championship after returning from an arm injury.
Guetti and Borgman have played together since their sophomore season in 2024, forming a connection the setter described as unmatched.
The win improves the Mustangs’ record to 18-1 for the season.
Shenendehowa will now advance to the state tournament, with pool play scheduled for Nov. 21 at Finger Lakes Community College.
The semifinals and final rounds are set to follow the next day at Roberts Wesleyan University.
Shaker concluded its season with an overall record of 14-5, per local reporting.
The victory marks a dominant era for the Shenendehowa program, which has now secured five straight sectional titles.